In industries where reliability and productivity are paramount, choosing the right maintenance stand isn’t just a purchasing decision. It’s essential for ensuring worker safety, improving maintenance efficiency, and increasing equipment longevity. Whether you’re maintaining aircraft, marine vessels, amusement park attractions, or heavy land vehicles like tanks, the right stand can mean the difference between streamlined operations and costly downtime.
The good news is you’ll find a wide range of maintenance platform types, each suited to unique operating environments and applications. But those diverse options can make it challenging to select the ideal maintenance stand for your needs.
Based on decades of experience serving leading military and commercial organizations, JE Technology Solutions understands the many factors that impact maintenance stand selection. This guide draws on our experience to help you navigate the process and choose the ground support equipment (GSE) that best meets your objectives.
What type of equipment or aircraft will you use this work stand for?
The most effective work stand is uniquely suited to the type of equipment, vehicle, or aircraft involved. The size and design of the aircraft, vehicles, or equipment you need to maintain and repair will have a significant impact on the type of work stand you require.
For example, if you need to use the platform with aircraft, amusement attractions, or other equipment of varying heights on a regular basis, then an adjustable stand might be the right choice. If you need to use the platform across a wide area of your operation, and it must be easily maneuvered, then a portable platform is likely a better option.
What types of tasks will your technicians perform using this work stand?
In the aerospace industry, technicians need work stands that provide safe, easy access to craft during annual inspections, 100-hour inspections, major repair work, and scheduled preventive maintenance. When working on military aircraft in particular, they must be equipped to conduct both field-level and depot-level maintenance safely and efficiently. Sometimes these applications require a custom platform designed to fit the aircraft or spacecraft size and shape; other times, an off-the-shelf stand purpose-built for a particular model is the right choice.
If you operate amusement or adventure attractions, keeping on top of maintenance is paramount to ensuring guest safety. Your maintenance staff will need a work stand that makes it easy to inspect key components like brakes and electrical systems to ensure they’re functioning properly. If you operate and maintain heavy land vehicles, such as tanks, your technicians need work platforms with a high load capacity, so they can perform preventive maintenance and unscheduled repairs with assurance the vehicle is sufficiently supported. And in the marine industry, you’re likely to need gangways and ramps that provide safe, convenient access from a floating dry dock to a pier or vessel.
Regardless of the industry, some work platforms are better suited to routine maintenance and inspections while others are ideal for long-term repair projects. While no single factor should dictate your choice of a work stand, a wrap-around platform is often a better choice for full overhaul inspections and repairs. With integrated electrical and pneumatic power, these solutions eliminate the need for cords and hoses that pose safety hazards and reduce efficiency. But keep in mind that a wrap-around platform requires more assembly and setup time.
How often will your teams use a particular work stand or platform?
Frequency of use is an important consideration when selecting a maintenance stand. The more often you plan to use it, the more essential it is to choose durable materials and a design that speeds and simplifies setup and breakdown. A well-designed fixed maintenance stand will be built to hold up to heavy daily use for years, but it can also do the job when you need to handle a major repair project with a finite duration.
What environmental conditions will your work platform need to withstand?
The operating environment of your work space will influence the type of material best suited to the job. When maintenance work happens outdoors or in other areas exposed to the elements—such as on docks, in airport hangars, or when working on amusement rides or adventure attractions—your work stand must be made of materials that can hold up to changing temperatures, humidity, and harsh weather conditions. Other times, your work stand might be exposed to corrosive substances or saltwater. The vendor’s design and engineering team can recommend the right material for your GSE and deliver the durability and longevity you expect.
What size load will your work stand need to support?
Many factors impact maintenance stand load capacity, including the number of workers who need to use the stand simultaneously, the types of tools and power supply they require, and the size and weight of the equipment or aircraft involved. Though load capacity can vary significantly across different stand types, fixed maintenance stands are typically built to support heavy loads without compromising structural integrity. Ask your maintenance stand manufacturer to recommend the right product to meet your load capacity requirements.
Do you have any work space or storage limitations?
Consider your available work space and storage capacity when choosing a maintenance stand or platform. If space is limited, you might need to opt for a more compact design. A custom solution can prove the right fit when you’re trying to balance maintenance stand size and functionality.
Do you prefer your work stand to function on a stand-alone basis or as a modular component?
In some cases, you can use a single stand-alone maintenance platform to conduct your work. In other instances, you might prefer a modular unit that gives you the flexibility to move it wherever it’s needed or attach it to a fixed wrap-around platform. Consider how you’ll use the work stand and whether you’d like the option to gain more functionality from the same equipment, using it as space-efficiently as possible.
Which safety features are most important for your application?
Safety is always a key factor when choosing a work stand or platform, and each application is likely to require different fall protection measures and other safety features.
When technicians work outside or anywhere else they could encounter wet conditions, non-skid surfaces are critical. When they work at height or at awkward angles, durable guardrails and handrails are essential for fall protection. But be sure the railing height keeps employees safe without hindering their work. Regardless of the application, always choose a work stand with a stable base and locking mechanisms designed to prevent accidents, along with the load capacity to safely support the intended weight.
What regulatory requirements does your work stand need to comply with?
Your chosen maintenance stand or platform must comply with the applicable safety standards for your industry, as well as broadly applicable regulations like those imposed by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Aviation companies need to ensure their work stands comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and/or European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations. Government agencies must meet US Department of Defense (DoD) requirements associated with military equipment maintenance. And for marine applications, a work stand, gangway, or ladder should comply with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards. Talk with the manufacturer to ensure their production processes adhere to relevant industry standards and deliver products that are compliant with the regulations you’re required to meet.
Do you have unique requirements that might demand a custom solution?
An experienced work stand manufacturer will offer both pre-fabricated products available off the shelf and custom solutions that build in specific functionality your technicians require. Consider a custom platform whenever your workers maintain and repair unique equipment (like aircraft with non-standard designs) or operate within tight workspaces that make access especially difficult (which is common in marine environments). The manufacturer can custom-configure a work stand in many ways, building in height adjustability features, crafting a foldable design, or integrating tool storage and power supply that’s compatible with the specific work tools and power components your technicians use.
Would a fixed, adjustable, or mobile stand work best for your application?
When choosing a maintenance stand or platform, one of the most important decisions is whether a fixed, adjustable, or mobile solution would best suit your needs. It’s helpful to understand the main characteristics of each product type.
Fixed work stands
Fixed metal maintenance stands are designed for stability and sturdiness, minimizing movement to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. Because they’re built to support heavy loads, they’re ideal when you need to handle substantial weight without jeopardizing the equipment’s structural integrity—for example, when working on large aircraft, ships, or military tanks. Stationary platforms are also built with the durability to withstand frequent use, minimizing work stand repair and replacement costs.
While stationary stands are available off the shelf, you can also customize these solutions to fit a particular equipment or aircraft type more precisely or to add features that help workers complete their tasks more efficiently.
Fixed stands are permanently anchored, which is both a pro and a con: You’ll avoid the time and labor of continual setup and breakdown, but the initial investment is higher since it requires installation. And because it’s not mobile and is often designed for a specific task or equipment type, it doesn’t give you the flexibility to use it elsewhere in your operation or the versatility to evolve with your changing maintenance requirements. If you need to maintain or repair new aircraft, equipment, or vehicle types over time, you might need to replace your fixed work stand. A stationary maintenance stand also tends take up a lot of room, which can make space planning more challenging.
Mobile or portable work stands
If you operate in a dynamic environment where your maintenance needs change frequently, a mobile work stand can provide the flexibility and portability you require. Also called rolling stands or universal deployable platforms, these solutions are built with lightweight materials
and wheels so workers can quickly and easily move them to different workstations based on your maintenance schedule or your changing requirements. Mobile stands eliminate costly setup and breakdown time, giving your technicians more time to spend on maintenance and repair work, which ultimately increases their productivity. When evaluating mobile maintenance stands, look for products that are just as stable and safe as fixed platforms.
Adjustable work stands
If you need the ability to adapt your work platform to different equipment types and maintenance tasks, then an adjustable stand might be the right choice. An adjustable work stand is somewhat of a hybrid between a fixed and a portable solution, providing the flexibility to use it on a stand-alone basis as a mobile unit or attach it to a stationary stand. An adjustable stand typically allows you to adjust the height for safe and easy access to a variety of equipment and components and adjust the handrails to keep workers protected without restricting their movement. Similar to a stationary stand, you can select a pre-fabricated adjustable work platform or obtain a custom platform designed to meet your unique requirements.
Which material is the right choice for your work stand?
The best material for your metal maintenance stand will depend on your requirements, particularly when it comes to material strength, durability, ease of machining, and ease of maintenance.
Leading manufacturers offer metal maintenance stands in a variety of materials, each with their own advantages.
- Steel (whether carbon, stainless, or galvanized) provides exceptional durability, strength, and load-bearing capacity, making it a popular choice for industrial work platforms. Carbon steel is less costly than stainless steel, but stainless and galvanized steel provide better corrosion resistance, so they’re good choices when your GSE will be exposed to moisture, harsh weather, or chemicals. While work stands made of carbon steel will need periodic painting or coating to prevent corrosion and rust, stainless and galvanized steel stands only need periodic cleaning with soap and water or a mild cleaning solution. It’s also advisable to inspect galvanized steel stands regularly to ensure the integrity of the protective zinc coating.
- Aluminum is lightweight enough to ensure easy mobility yet sturdy enough to support heavy loads, making it ideal for portable work platforms. Its corrosion and rust resistance also make it a good choice when your GSE will be used outdoors or exposed to humidity or harsh operating environments. An aluminum stand will be easily maintained with soap and water or a mild cleaning solution. But since this material can scratch or dent, you will need to check it for damage periodically.
How quickly do you need your work stand or platform delivered?
If you don’t require any customizations, selecting a pre-fab maintenance stand will speed your turnaround time. Even if your needs demand a custom solution, manufacturers like JE Technology Solutions will apply a proven design, engineering, and production process that enables them to deliver a tailored product on an accelerated timeline.
What is your available budget?
Financial considerations always weigh into any major purchase decision, including your choice of a work stand or platform. A pre-fabricated stand will generally be less expensive than a custom solution since it’s not adapted to specific requirements.
Trust JE Technology Solutions to meet your maintenance stand needs
When you select a maintenance stand or platform, you need confidence you’re selecting a product that will enhance worker safety, improve efficiency, and increase equipment longevity. It needs to work within your specific operation, providing the features and functionality your technicians require to get crucial maintenance and repair work completed quickly and effectively, keeping aircraft and equipment in service and avoiding costly downtime.
With 75+ years of combined engineering experience, JE Technology is the right partner to help you select the optimal maintenance stand or platform for your needs. Whether your staff maintains and repairs commercial or military aircraft, marine vessels, amusement rides and attractions, or tanks and other heavy land vehicles, our highly experienced team will recommend a work stand that meets your business objectives.Why Proper Maintenance Stand Selection is Crucial
Technicians need safe, easy access to equipment and components to perform required inspections, preventive maintenance, and repairs. Getting the work done safely, efficiently, and productively helps you keep high-value, mission-critical equipment, aircraft, and vehicles in service. It also improves your profitability by equipping your maintenance staff to complete their tasks in less time.
Choosing the right maintenance stand or platform can help you achieve those vital business objectives. Many factors should weigh into this decision—from the type of equipment or aircraft involved, to environmental conditions, fall protection and other safety considerations, regulatory requirements, the need for mobility, and many others. The more thoroughly you define your requirements, the better equipped you’ll be to choose the optimal GSE for your needs.
Questions like the following will help you define your maintenance platform requirements and ensure you choose the right product for the job.
